Experiences with Meher Baba
Baba and the Scientist
Source: Panj Pyare by D.V. Balakrishna Meher
This is the story of Niranjan Singh, the Principal of Delhi College, a scientist and a man of knowledge who had met Meher Baba when he once held a public darshan in Delhi.
From time to time he received permission from Baba to visit him and being an intellectual he often asked questions that Baba answered spontaneously and which benefited us too. The answers were later published in the book entitled “The Everything and the Nothing”.
One day after the book was published, Niranjan Singh visited Baba and sat with the disciples before him. Baba turned to Francis Brabazon, one of the disciples, and said “Go and get that book Niranjan Singh is responsible for.” Francis did as he was told and handed the book to Baba who after turning a few pages said to the illustrious visitor, “Here is the result of your efforts. You asked all the questions and many readers will benefit from this book. The last time you were here, you said you were completely satisfied and that nothing more was to be asked.”
Niranjan Singh heaved a deep sigh, looked at the Book with no sign of Joy or Happiness on his face. “What is the matter. Are you not happy with the book?” queried Baba.
“When I left after my last visit I was so pleased and happy. My mind was at rest since I had asked all the questions which bothered me and you had answered them to my complete satisfaction. I was really in a happy state of mind, but Baba, when I reached Delhi and sat at home to meditate, a doubt crept into my mind which has never left me since. That is why I have come again.”
Baba smiled and asked, “What is the doubt?” Niranjan Singh said, “Baba, I understand from your answers that God is within us, and that you are within us too, and that you know everything. If this is so, then why should you not remove all doubts and difficulties from within? Why should we have to come to you again and again?”
Baba answered, “Niranjan Singh, this doubt of yours is genuine and I will answer it. I know everything from within but I do not work from within because of Maya (illusion). Because of illusion it is not possible for me to do this work from within. That is why I take human form from time to time, and that is why you and others like you come to me again and again. You come, ask your question, receive your answer and go. But tell me honestly — on your way to me, does the doubt remain with you?”
Niranjan Singh replied, “No Baba, the doubt does not remain on my way to you.” And Baba said “That is why I come. So that the doubts vanish while coming to me.”
Lose All to Find Him
Source: Panj Pyare by D.V. Balakrishna Meher
Daulat Singh was ever-ready to sacrifice everything to beloved Baba. One day a Baba lover by name Habibulla Baig who was with Baba during his visit to Kashmir went to him to give him a letter which Baba had given. Baba had asked Daulat Singh to give a certain amount of money to Baig. After reading the letter he said, “Baba wants only this much service from me? When will that time come when he takes away all that belongs to me?” His words came to pass during the Indo-Pak partition when he literally had to flee from Srinagar along with his family members with the least belongings to Bangalore.
Be Resigned to My Will
Source: How a Master Works by Ivy Duce
A man who had been a mendicant for years came to Baba, told him the tale of his austerities and asked his blessing. Baba said, “You have not obliged me by doing all this. The point now is, are you ready to do whatever I tell you to do?” The man answered yes.
“All right, I want you to continue the life of wandering and begging, but in addition I want you to drink a bottle of wine every day.”
The man was shocked. He had been systematically purifying his body over a period of years, and now he was being asked to defile it. He started making excuses. Finally the man said no. Baba said, “It is easy to lead the life you have been living. It is very difficult to obey me.”
Baba then said, “All right, I will be pleased with you if you just do one thing for me. Only eat the food cooked by another.” He accepted this order, received Baba’s blessing and departed.
Follow My Instructions
Source: How a Master Works by Ivy Duce
In the Jabalpur ashram there were two bungalows, one for the men and one for the women. The diet at the ashram was strictly vegetarian. Not only did Baba not allow any meat or fish, but he also personally inspected most thoroughly every parcel and suitcase which was brought into the ashram.
Baba’s mother especially fancied pomfret, a fish caught only off the northwest coast of India. Once, when she knew that Baba was going to be off on a mast trip, she arranged for some of this fish to be brought down from Bombay. The fish arrived. Baba’s mother lost no time in cooking it and forthwith sat down to eat it. She had no sooner sat down when in through the open window jumped five cats. They climbed all over her, scratching her and making short work of the fish. Baba’s mother could only conclude that this was Baba’s way of enforcing his instructions even in his absence.